Der In Charge, Wydnor Authority Learns

April 11, 1985|by CHERYL WENNER, The Morning Call

The Wydnor-University Heights Water Authority was notified last month that the enforcement of federal safe drinking water requirements has been transferred from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to the state Department of Environmental Resources.

The news came in a letter from Hanover Engineering Associates, Bethlehem, which serves the Wydnor-University Heights and Bingen Water authorities.

At Tuesday's monthly meeting, Wydnor-University Heights authority Chairwoman Martha Chase outlined what additional costs the authorities may incur as a result. It has not been determined whether these costs will affect customer rates.

Under EPA jurisdiction, neither system was required to have a water supply permit. Now, according to Hanover Engineering's letter, each authority must submit a "brief description" to the DER by June 8. DER then decides if a permit is needed. Following notification from DER that a permit is required, the authority is allowed six months to file an application.

The fee for the permit, which must be prepared by a professional engineer, is $750. DER hopes to haveall permits assigned by Dec. 8, 1989.

Also, the new ruling requires that water systems conduct tests for the presence of inorganic chemicals, pesticides and herbicides every three years, in addition to monthly bacteria tests. The new tests, which engineer K.B. "Casey" Hanover estimates will cost a total of about $300, are due by June 24.

Radiological tests are due every four years, starting June 24, 1988. No cost estimate was available on those tests.

Hanover Engineering was authorized Tuesday to draft a description and "check into" the testing responsibility of the authority, which purchases its water supply from Bethlehem.

"It seems redundant for us to test (beyond the monthly bacteria check), since we're not treating the water," said treasurer Edward Fulmer. "That is something we'll need to look into."